privatisation

Thailand: Rail strikes against privatisation

Steven. — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:07:54 +0000

The Bangkok Post reported that the State Railways of Thailand (SRT) labour union will resume striking against the Surayud government next month if the authorities fail to meet its demands involving the controversial leases of SRT property to the private sector and revision of SRT privatisation schemes.

UK: Tube maintenance workers begin six days of strikes

Steven. — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:02:07 +0000

The strikes were called after the company and its administrator failed to give the unequivocal guarantees on jobs, transfers and pensions that the union is seeking.

"The letter we have received from Metronet and the administrator falls way short of the guarantees our members need and deserve," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today

Privatisation by the back door: The health workers’ strike and the future of medical care in Poland

Steven. — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 09:31:28 +0000

Some hospitals have given up the strike, some hospitals are concluding private deals with doctors. Nurses have organised separately from the doctors with a slightly different agenda. And it well may turn out that the results of the strike are strikingly different salaries for health care workers throughout Poland and increased privatization of the health care industry.

UK: Post Office strikes continue

Steven. — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:38:39 +0000

While management tried to downplay the effects of the strike, the CWU claimed that members supported the strikes in overwhelming numbers. Post Office Limited (POL) Head Office was placed in disarray due to severe staff shortages as managers were once again forced to travel at great cost across the country to cover members’ jobs.

Poland’s health care workers’ strike: new challenges and old problems

laureakai — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 06:15:01 +0000

The Doctor’s Strike and the Nurses’ Occupation

Belgium: Flights grounded by wildcat strike

Steven. — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 10:30:29 +0000

The BBC reported that all flights in and out of Ryanair's Belgian hub at Charleroi airport were grounded on Friday after security staff walked out in a wildcat strike.

A row over the privatisation of public sector security personnel caused the disruption, which began at dawn and spread to Liege airport in the east.

An estimated 8,000 passengers have been affected by the action so far.

1977: The great Northampton General Hospital lie in

Steven. — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 09:21:38 +0000

30 years ago: Rita Ward and the Great Northampton Hospital ‘lie-in”
We hear a lot these days about the ‘creeping privatisation’ of the NHS. We have a Labour government committed to turning our free National Health Service into just another business along the lines of the American model, which sees poor people refused medical treatment because they can’t afford it.

Argentina: railway station burnt by passengers

jef costello — Mon, 21 May 2007 18:48:33 +0000

The trouble started when a train broke down 600 metres from Constitucion station, south of Buenos Aires. After 20 minutes a group of passengers (these trains are packed solid with no air conditioning and little ventilation) walked to the station to demand answers. When they did not get any they began to destroy the information offices.

Lebanon: electricity workers threaten strike

jef costello — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:25:40 +0000

Staff are demanding that the government honour long-standing promises over wages and contracts. Specifically they are asking for pay rises that were due in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Furthermore they are demanding that all employees be advanced 4 levels on the pay scale. They are calling for a long service bonus for staff.

Ireland: Energy workers plan strikes

jef costello — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 02:02:55 +0000

The main reason for the action is the government-backed plans for the distribution of electricity, selling the network to Eirgrid, a state-owned private limited company, which workers see as a step towards privatisation and a loss of the rights held by state employees.